Oaxaca bordered by mountains and thick forests, with a very pleasant Plaza de la Constitución / zocalo where you can eat, drink and watch the world go by.

Oaxaca is located in Southwestern Mexico is best known for its indigenous peoples and cultures. The most numerous and best known are the Zapotecs and the Mixtecs, but there are sixteen that are officially recognized. These cultures have survived better than most others in Mexico due to the state's rugged and isolating terrain. Most live in the Central Valleys region, which is also an important area for tourism, attracting people for its archeological sites such as Monte Albán, native culture and crafts. Another important tourist area is the coast, which has the major resort of Huatulco. Oaxaca is also one of the most biologically diverse states in Mexico, ranking in the top three, along with Chiapas and Veracruz, for numbers of reptiles, amphibians, mammals and plants. Thanks Mr Wikipedia.
 
A walking tour of the local food market and neighbouring shops.

Rosa introduced us to the different forms of mezcal including the flavoured ones. Then tasting:
- chapulines: fried crispy and hot (chilli spicy hot) grasshopper
- quesillo: local stringy cheese
- mole / rojo: a rich sauce made of ground chilies and a number of other ingredients
- finally seeing how the local chocolate was made.